Cowlishaw: Why Cowboys need to give starters more minutes in preseason games

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Michael Ainsworth/Staff Photographer

Dallas Cowboys defensive back Brandon Carr (39) runs after making his second interception as San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Brown (86) attempts to tackle him during their preseason game in San Diego, CA, on Saturday, August 18, 2012.

Putting three points on the board in the form of a 40-yard Dan Bailey field goal? The Cowboys offense had to be really, really bad in Oakland for this to serve as progress in San Diego.

Certainly Cowboys fans could be feel better about the rapidly approaching season opener after watching Tony Romo go 9-for-13 for 75 yards. More important, they saw Romo with time to go to second and third receiving options while scanning the field behind solid protection.

That was the surprise of the Cowboys’ 28-20 loss in San Diego in which the Dallas starters outplayed the Chargers. My only question: Why end the good times so soon?

Romo’s night was done at the start of the second quarter. He was not under duress. He had not been hit. The Chargers played quarterback Philip Rivers the entire first half. With the suspects on the offensive line (center David Arkin, guard Derrick Dockery) supplying good protection, why not give Romo and the first unit some much needed game experience?

There’s a real chance that Romo will need to rely on John Phillips at tight end when the season begins. Whether lacerated or “partly lacerated,” a damaged spleen is a dangerous thing, and even Jason Witten may not make a hasty recovery from the injury sustained in Oakland.

We know that even after Miles Austin’s hamstring heals, either he or Dez Bryant will miss some playing time. With Kevin Ogletree playing the best we have seen him, why not give him at least another quarter to work with Romo?

I understand that the Cowboys are not alone in their view of preseason games as necessary evils in which the primary goal is to avoid injury. I just wonder if 32 teams are as wrong on this as they could be on the traditional view of punting.

There’s a lot of talk these days about coaches at all levels being too enamored with punting on fourth downs in which the modern numbers-crunchers say it’s more sensible to go for it. San Diego State coach Ricky Long has talked about going for it on all fourth downs across the 50-yard line this season.

In a Sunday New York Times article about changing philosophies on punting, Brian Burke of advancesnflstats.com, said, “Coaches have strategies that are generations behind where the sport really is.”

That may not be limited to their thoughts on punts. I am waiting for the NFL coach who understands the value and the opportunity that the preseason games represent.

We’ve all seen how these teams look in the first week of September. False starts. Wasted time outs. Confusion reigns.

I want to see an NFL team play its starters half the first preseason game, three quarters of the second game, the entire third game and at least half of the fourth game. I will cheer (quietly, of course, it is a press box) for that team.

What’s the downside? Well, it’s rather obvious.

The greater injury risk could derail the start of the season. Get two or three more key players hurt than the average team does playing starters more conservatively, and my team is going to be behind the eight ball.

What’s the upside? How about a Super Bowl?

Winning in this league is more and more about risk. The playing field is remarkably even these days. The slightest of advantages is something to be cherished.

The more fully prepared team will have a leg up on opponents when the season begins. If you look at most teams’ injury reports, Cowboys included, more than half of those injuries come in practice, not in preseason games. Yes, danger exists in these preseason games, but it’s not what people think.

How important would it be if the Cowboys’ first units had an extra game of competition under their belts compared to the Giants on Sept. 5?

As it stands, Romo has thrown 19 passes in two games. That’s a fairly busy half in the regular season. When the weekend’s over, he will be outside the top 20 in attempts by starters.

The Cowboys have gone the prudent, cautious route. With the changes in their offensive line, it’s understandable. But that approach also lowers expectations for Sept. 5, doesn’t it?

Someday a more aggressive, progressive team is going to see the preseason as an opportunity to get ahead of opponents and collect September victories.

In a division as tightly packed as the NFC East, that would seem to be the kind of coaching decision owner Jerry Jones would second if he is the risk-taker that he says he is.

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About Tim Cowlishaw

Tim Cowlishaw has been The Dallas Morning News' lead sports columnist since July 1998. Prior to that he covered the Cowboys for six seasons and the Stars for three as a beat reporter. He also covered the Rangers as a backup beat writer and was the San Jose Mercury News' beat writer on the San Francisco Giants in the late 1980s.

Tim has been appearing regularly on ESPN"s "Around the Horn" since the show made its debut in November 2002. He also worked with ESPN as part of the network's "NASCAR Now" coverage in 2007-08.

Favorite Dallas restaurants: Park, Nick and Sam's, Kenichi.

Worst sports prediction: His first in college ... that Earl Campbell had no shot at the Heisman Trophy.

Best sports memories: Seeing the Dallas Stars hoist the Stanley Cup long after midnight in Buffalo, watching the Dallas Cowboys win the Super Bowl and Texas win the national title in perfect Rose Bowl settings.